ABLE Voices

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the ABLE Voices podcast. Today, you'll meet our next guest host, Richard Thai.

Richard Thai is a musician, educator, and administrator who is visually impaired.  He was diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy and nystagmus in childhood.  His passion for jazz and improvised music led him on a journey from New Zealand to New York City to pursue graduate study at Queens College, City University of New York.  As a performer he has recorded on saxophone with the New Zealand School of Music Big Band, The Jac (jazz ensemble), and the Alec Castro Octet.  He has also performed with the APJO (Asia-Pacific Jazz Orchestra) as well as led his own jazz trio and quartet. Richard is committed to making music accessible for people who are blind and visually impaired.  Since 2017 he has worked at the FMDG Music School (a vibrant music education community for people of all ages with vision loss) in many capacities - as an intern, fellow, teacher, and administrator. Richard continues to advocate for access and inclusion in the music industry and disability community.

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:
Instagram: @BIAAE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the ABLE Voices podcast. Today's guest host is Jillian Raquet.

Jillian Raquet is a New York City–based nonprofit arts administrator, educator, and vocalist with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit arts and cultural sector. As an artist with low vision, Jillian is deeply committed to creating more inclusive pathways in the arts. Her work is closely connected to the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School, a community music school for the blind and visually impaired, where she began as a student in 2012 while studying Musical Theater at Marymount Manhattan College.  Through her work there, she collaborates with fellow artists with vision loss and is dedicated to expanding meaningful opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities. Jillian’s professional background includes positions at leading arts organizations such as TADA! Youth Theatre, Theater Development Fund, Philadelphia Theater Company, and A Class Act NY, where she developed expertise in arts education, outreach, and program development. Today, Jillian will be speaking to Jenna Bainbridge.

Jenna Bainbridge is an actor, singer, and disability rights advocate currently appearing on Broadway as Nessarose in Wicked. In 2024, she became the first wheelchair user to perform in a new musical on Broadway when she made her debut in Suffs, which won the 2024 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Music. In addition to performing, Jenna is also the co-founder of ConsultAbility, a nonprofit consulting company whose mission is to work with theatrical institutions and educational programs to create more accessible spaces and inclusive programming for disabled artists, bridging the gap between what's desired and what's required when working with disabled artists in the theatrical world.

Follow Jenna on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bainbridgejenna/ 

Website: https://www.jennabainbridge.com/ 

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:

Instagram: @BIAAE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the ABLE Voices podcast. Today's guest host is Jillian Raquet.

Jillian Raquet is a New York City–based nonprofit arts administrator, educator, and vocalist with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit arts and cultural sector. As an artist with low vision, Jillian is deeply committed to creating more inclusive pathways in the arts. Her work is closely connected to the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School, a community music school for the blind and visually impaired, where she began as a student in 2012 while studying Musical Theater at Marymount Manhattan College.  Through her work there, she collaborates with fellow artists with vision loss and is dedicated to expanding meaningful opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities. Jillian’s professional background includes positions at leading arts organizations such as TADA! Youth Theatre, Theater Development Fund, Philadelphia Theater Company, and A Class Act NY, where she developed expertise in arts education, outreach, and program development. Today, Jillian will be speaking to Sofiya Cheyenne.

Sofiya Cheyenne is a New York-based multidisciplinary artivist, teaching artist, and creative access consultant. As a proud Indigenous woman with dwarfism, she believes deeply in amplifying the voices and stories of disabled peoples through art and storytelling. Sofiya is the co-chair of the Dwarf Artists Coalition, steering committee member of Cultural Accessibility NYC, and proud advisory board member of the National Center for Disability and Pregnancy Research. Sophia has always invested her advocacy and artistry together to challenge societal norms, combat ableism, and break barriers.

Follow Sofiya on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofiyacheyenne/
Website: https://www.sofiyacheyenne.com/

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:
Instagram: @BIAAE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the ABLE Voices podcast. Today's guest host is Jillian Raquet.

Jillian Raquet is a New York City–based nonprofit arts administrator, educator, and vocalist with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit arts and cultural sector. As an artist with low vision, Jillian is deeply committed to creating more inclusive pathways in the arts. Her work is closely connected to the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School, a community music school for the blind and visually impaired, where she began as a student in 2012 while studying Musical Theater at Marymount Manhattan College.  Through her work there, she collaborates with fellow artists with vision loss and is dedicated to expanding meaningful opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities. Jillian’s professional background includes positions at leading arts organizations such as TADA! Youth Theatre, Theater Development Fund, Philadelphia Theater Company, and A Class Act NY, where she developed expertise in arts education, outreach, and program development. Today, Jillian will be speaking to Kerry Candeloro.

Kerry Candeloro is a disabled theater worker currently positioned as the Access Associate at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She is also a disability consultant with Disney Theatrical Group as well as The Walt Disney Company. In early 2024, Kerry began her tenure as co-chair for the Museum, Arts, and Culture Access Consortium. She has been professionally affiliated with Moulin Rouge! The Musical, New York Theater Workshop, NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Columbia University, and the Lincoln Center Theater Director's Lab. As a disability advocate, Kerry has collaborated with various organizations to bring more visibility to the disabled community through social media. She has been a volunteer with YO! Disabled and Proud, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, a collaborator with Open Style Lab, and an ambassador with Liberare, an accessible clothing brand. Kerry is a graduate of the ADA Coordinator Training Program. Her story and work have been featured on websites like BuzzFeed, West Side Rag, and Freebird UK.

Follow Kerry on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerry_can/
X: https://x.com/kerrycandeloro

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:
Instagram: @BIAAE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the ABLE Voices podcast. Today's guest host is Jillian Raquet.

Jillian Raquet is a New York City–based nonprofit arts administrator, educator, and vocalist with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit arts and cultural sector. As an artist with low vision, Jillian is deeply committed to creating more inclusive pathways in the arts. Her work is closely connected to the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School, a community music school for the blind and visually impaired, where she began as a student in 2012 while studying Musical Theater at Marymount Manhattan College.  Through her work there, she collaborates with fellow artists with vision loss and is dedicated to expanding meaningful opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities. Jillian’s professional background includes positions at leading arts organizations such as TADA! Youth Theatre, Theater Development Fund, Philadelphia Theater Company, and A Class Act NY, where she developed expertise in arts education, outreach, and program development. Today, Jillian will be speaking to Eddy Echo.

Eddy Echo is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and musician known for his genre-blending sound, heartfelt songwriting, and dynamic live performances. At the age of 13, Eddy began losing his eyesight due to Stargardt's disease, a rare genetic eye condition, and is legally blind. Rather than letting visual impairment define or limit his creative vision, Eddy turned music into his primary lens for exploring and expressing the world. His lived experiences deeply informs his emotive sound, storytelling approach, and passion for connecting authentically with audiences. In addition to his career as a performing artist and a recording artist, he connects with creator communities as the host of the Eddy Echo Show podcast.

Follow Eddy on Social Media:

Website: https://www.https://eddyecho.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddyecho/

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:
Instagram: @BIAAE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the ABLE Voices podcast. Today, you'll meet our next guest host, Jillian Raquet.

Jillian Raquet is a New York City–based nonprofit arts administrator, educator, and vocalist with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit arts and cultural sector. As an artist with low vision, Jillian is deeply committed to creating more inclusive pathways in the arts. Her work is closely connected to the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School, a community music school for the blind and visually impaired, where she began as a student in 2012 while studying Musical Theater at Marymount Manhattan College.  Through her work there, she collaborates with fellow artists with vision loss and is dedicated to expanding meaningful opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities. Jillian’s professional background includes positions at leading arts organizations such as TADA! Youth Theatre, Theater Development Fund, Philadelphia Theater Company, and A Class Act NY, where she developed expertise in arts education, outreach, and program development. 

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:

Instagram: @BIAAE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the Able Voices podcast. Today, our guest host is Tony Memmel.

Tony Memmel is a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher with unique charisma and creativity. Though he was born with one hand, he taught himself to play the guitar professionally by building a special cast that he designed out of guerrilla tape. He has toured toured 47 of the 50 states, 25 countries, and has worked with 16 countries, virtually sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience. His work ranges from visiting schools, hospitals, and churches, to writing and arranging music for children, composing symphonies, performing in historic concert venues, and helping people with hand and limb differences, like his, to develop their adaptive methods that allow them to make music part of their lives. Today, Tony will be speaking to Nicole Marti.

Nicole (Kelly) Marti is a speaker, storyteller, and organizer dedicated to organizing sacred spaces for the disability community. She has delivered talks at schools and universities nationwide, and spoken at major companies including Google, Microsoft, and Riot Games. She co-hosted the podcast Disarming Disability, served as emcee for the Kennedy Center’s 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and in 2023 shared her story on NPR's, The Moth. Nicole is currently full-time as the Event Support Manager for the Amputee Coalition, a national nonprofit serving the limb loss/limb difference community.

Follow Tony on Social Media:

Website: https://www.tonymemmel.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonymemmel/

Follow Nicole on Social Media:

Website: https://amputee-coalition.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolegmarti/

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:

Instagram: @BIAAE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the Able Voices podcast. Today, our guest host is Tony Memmel.

Tony Memmel is a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher with unique charisma and creativity. Though he was born with one hand, he taught himself to play the guitar professionally by building a special cast that he designed out of guerrilla tape. He has toured toured 47 of the 50 states, 25 countries, and has worked with 16 countries, virtually sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience. His work ranges from visiting schools, hospitals, and churches, to writing and arranging music for children, composing symphonies, performing in historic concert venues, and helping people with hand and limb differences, like his, to develop their adaptive methods that allow them to make music part of their lives. Today, Tony will be speaking to David Harrell.

David Harrell is a New York City–based actor, speaker, and disability advocate originally from Georgia, known for his award-nominated solo play A Little Potato and Hard to Peel, which blends humor, storytelling, and personal experiences growing up with a disability to inspire audiences worldwide. Through both his performances and keynote presentation, Navigating a Two-handed World…Single Handedly, he encourages people to embrace resilience, reject limitations, and live with dignity and courage. With over 15 years of experience in theater, film, and television—including appearances on Law & Order: SVU—he is also an active advocate for accessibility in the arts, working with organizations like Inclusion in the Arts and SAG-AFTRA. Harrell holds a BFA and MFA in theatre performance and continues to educate and inspire diverse audiences, including students across the country, through his work on stage and in schools.

Follow Tony on Social Media:

Website: https://www.tonymemmel.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonymemmel/

Follow David on Social Media:

Website: https://davidharrellspeaks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidharrell3/

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:

Instagram: @BIAAE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the Able Voices podcast. Today, our guest host is Tony Memmel.

Tony Memmel is a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher with unique charisma and creativity. Though he was born with one hand, he taught himself to play the guitar professionally by building a special cast that he designed out of guerrilla tape. He has toured toured 47 of the 50 states, 25 countries, and has worked with 16 countries, virtually sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience. His work ranges from visiting schools, hospitals, and churches, to writing and arranging music for children, composing symphonies, performing in historic concert venues, and helping people with hand and limb differences, like his, to develop their adaptive methods that allow them to make music part of their lives. Today, Tony will be speaking to Rion Page.

Dr. Deborah “Deb” Amend is an assistant professor of special education at Northern Kentucky University, a pianist, and a passionate advocate for adaptive music education. Inspired by raising three daughters who learned instruments through creative adaptations, she co-founded the Cincinnati Adaptive Music Camp with violinist Jennifer Petry nearly 15 years ago. What began as a small initiative has grown into the Cincinnati Adaptive Music and Arts Camp, offering inclusive programs in music and visual arts, supported by custom adaptive instruments and tools. Dr. Amend’s work focuses on developing practical teaching methods and training educators to create more inclusive, disability-informed environments, with the goal of helping all students access and participate fully in the arts.

Follow Tony on Social Media:

Website: https://www.tonymemmel.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonymemmel/

Learn more about the Cincinnati Adaptive Music Camp:

https://theadaptiveartsandmusicproject.org/caamc-2026/

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:

Instagram: @BIAAE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE

We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the Able Voices podcast. Today, our guest host is Tony Memmel.

Tony Memmel is a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher with unique charisma and creativity. Though he was born with one hand, he taught himself to play the guitar professionally by building a special cast that he designed out of guerrilla tape. He has toured toured 47 of the 50 states, 25 countries, and has worked with 16 countries, virtually sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience. His work ranges from visiting schools, hospitals, and churches, to writing and arranging music for children, composing symphonies, performing in historic concert venues, and helping people with hand and limb differences, like his, to develop their adaptive methods that allow them to make music part of their lives. Today, Tony will be speaking to Rion Page.

Rion Paige Thompson is an American country singer from Jacksonville, Florida who finished in 5th place on season 3 of the X Factor USA. She was a part of the Girls catagory, mentored by Demi Lovato. Rion, who has a rare condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita which has caused permanent damage to her arms, resulting in her hands being in a fixed bent position.

Follow Tony on Social Media:

Website: https://www.tonymemmel.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonymemmel/

Follow Rion Page on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohrionpaige/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohrionpaige/

The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.

For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE

Follow us for more weekly updates at:
Instagram: @BIAAE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE